Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina will both be looking to put a frustrating World Cup start behind them when they meet in Group B in Los Angeles.
Group favourites Switzerland looked to secure all three points in their first game against Qatar, but were rebound by an equaliser in the 94th minute and had to settle for a 1-1 draw in a game they expected to win comfortably.
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Bosnia also lost the lead when they were held to a 1-1 draw by co-hosts Canada, giving them a mountain to climb if they are to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
Switzerland have reached the knockout stages of each of the last three World Cups, although they have never progressed beyond the last eight.
With their superior track record at this level, Switzerland will be hoping to start with victory, although both teams will be hoping that the air-conditioned surroundings of the SoFi Stadium will allow for better performances than in the opening matches. Both teams struggled with the heat in the San Francisco Bay Area and Toronto, respectively.
Bosnia coach Sergei Barbarez lamented a “defensive” approach in their draw against Canada, but they could be in a better position to be more offensive if Edin Džeko returns after missing the first leg due to injury.
Switzerland, on the other hand, will be hoping to look far more clinical than against Qatar, where they scored just once on 26 shots – and that was on a penalty by Breel Embolo.
The frustrating result meant that Switzerland have won just one of their last six games, and it is crucial for Murat Yakin’s side that they break that streak and ensure that their final group game against Canada is not a must-win.
World Cup 2026: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Team Updates
Switzerland have no injury problems after the draw against Qatar.
Džeko and Haris Tabaković remain uncertain for Bosnia, while Sead Kolašinac’s availability is also a question mark after he limped off the field in the draw against Canada. Nidal Čelik will miss the rest of the tournament with an injury sustained in the match, and has been replaced in the squad by Arjan Malić from Sturm Graz.
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: World Cup 2026 – Predicted line-ups
Switzerland: Kobel; Zakaria, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Aebischer, Xhaka, Freuler; Ndoye, Embolo, Manzambi
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Dedić, Katić, Muharemović, Kolašinac; Bajraktarević, Tahirović, Bašić, Alajbegović; Demirović, Lukić
Where to watch Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – TV channel and live streams
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina kicks off at 20:00 UK time. The match will be broadcast on ITV 1 and STV, and is available to stream via ITVX and STV Player. Sky subscribers can also stream the match via Sky Go.
World Cup 2026: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – statistics
- Switzerland and Bosnia have only met once before. Bosnia won 2-0 away in a friendly match in 2016.
- Bosnia’s last four competitive matches have all ended 1-1.
- Breel Embolo has scored in four of his last six games for Switzerland.
World Cup 2026: Prediction for Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Switzerland were disappointing in their opening match, but in a stadium where heat won’t be a factor, Yakin’s side should have enough to secure a win that could effectively secure them a place in the knockout stages.
Divination: Switzerland 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
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